BJC
We appear to be in heated agreement on the ethical issue.
Yes you are right in stating that money is not an issue where ethics are concerned. To discuss money over an ethical question is like the old joke where a man asked a woman if she would sleep with him for $1,000,000. When she said yes he asked if she would sleep with him for $5.
She became indignant and said, “What do you think I am?”
The man responded, “We have established that, now we are negotiating the price.”
Although the question was asked in an ethics forum, it is not really an ethics question. There is no disagreement in any of the posts that to certify unqualified people would be unethical.
The question is regarding the obligations of APIGUY to his employer over the cost of training.
My first post advised him to see a lawyer. However it is my experience with the legal profession that they can be more concerned with winning an issue with no regard for the cost of the battle. It’s usually better to try to negotiate a solution than threaten legal action.
If the cost of fighting over something is more than the cost being fought over, it’s better to pay off the opposition and get on with your life otherwise you will only make lawyers rich. The only exceptions to this are where there is the risk of setting a precedent for future reference (in which the cost being fought over is actually more than the present cost) or if there are some other non-monetary issues at stake.
I do not see this in the present case. There is no risk of setting a precedent, as the existing employee-employer relationship will be ended. The only possible non-monetary issue is his reputation. The present employer can give negative feedback regarding his skills if the leaving is tainted by hard feelings. The ethical question is moot since APIGUY has stated that he will not certify unqualified individuals.
Only the (unknown to us) cost of the training is at issue. If it were a large amount then I’d try to negotiate an acceptable repayment plan or fight the issue. If this is a small cost better to pay it and leave on good terms. Only APIGUY can determine what is a small cost. To some $100 is significant, to others $1,000 might not be significant. The important fact is to make a rational decision based on costs and benefits and not on hurt feelings.
The repayment can be in providing training to the current employer. This would allow APIGUY to develop the courses and delivery method while working with people and in an environment that he is familiar with. The best recommendation that a new consultant can have is to list his former employer as his first client.
Notice that I said provides training. I never said provide certification to unqualified individuals. Just as it would be unethical to certify qualifications to unqualified fellow employee, it would be unethical to certify qualifications to unqualified clients.
It would not be unethical to take an unqualified individual, provide him with the training necessary to become qualified and then certify him as qualified. This is routine in industry. Some examples are workplace safety, WHMIS training etc.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
